Cardamine griffithii J. D. Hooker & Thomson, J. Proc. Linn. Soc., Bot. 5: 146. 1861. TYPE: Bhutan, Lamnoo, Griffith s.n. (holotype, K!).

Cardamine griffithii var. pentaloba W. T. Wang, Acta Bot. Yunnan. 9: 16. 1987. TYPE: China. Yunnan: Lanping, 2600-3100 m, 28 Jun 1981, Exped. Hengduanshan 1171 (holotype, PE!).

            Herbs, perennial, glabrous throughout except for leaflet margin. Rhizomes creeping, without stolons. Stems (2–)3–10(–11.5) dm, erect, simple or branched above, striate angled, (9–)12–28(–37)-leaved. Leaves sessile, cauline; lower and middle ones (1–)2–9(–11) ´ (0.7–)1–3.5(–4.5) cm; terminal leaflet orbicular, broadly ovate, or obovate, (0.5–)1–3(–3.5) ´ (0.3–)0.6–1.9(–2.5) cm, with a petiolule 2–10(–15) mm, base subcordate, rounded, or rarely cuneate, margin repand or entire and sparsely ciliate, apex obtuse or rounded; lateral leaflets 2–4(or 5) pairs, slightly to distinctly smaller than terminal one, base obtuse or rarely slightly oblique, margin entire or repand and sparsely ciliate, apex obtuse or rounded; proximal pair of lateral leaflets auriclelike, attached at or just above node, often giving appearance of amplexicaul leaf base; uppermost leaves smaller. Racemes ebracteate; fruiting pedicels ascending or divaricate, (0.4–)0.7–1.5 cm, slender, straight. Sepals ovate or oblong, 2.5–3 ´ 1.5–2 mm, erect; petals purple or lavender, spatulate or obovate, 6–9 ´ (2.5–)3–5 mm, not clawed, apex rounded or subemarginate; filaments erect, median pairs 3.5–4.5 mm, lateral pair 2.5–3 mm; anthers oblong, 0.9–1.1 mm; ovules 10–22 per ovary. Fruit linear, (1.5–)2–4 cm ´ 0.9–1.2 mm; gynophore 0.5–1 mm; valves smooth, glabrous; style 0.5–1(–2) mm; stigma 2-lobed, distinctly broader than style. Seeds brown, oblong, 1.4–1.7 ´ 0.8–1.1 mm, wingless.

Flowering: May–Aug.

Habitat: mountain slopes, valleys, streamsides, pastures, marshy places, moist forest floor, shady rocky areas.

Elevation: 2400–4500 m.

Distribution: Bhutan, China (Sichuan, Xizang, Yunnan), India (Sikkim), Nepal.